A FINE GOLD BRACELET 9TH/10TH CENTURY

the gold beaten into an almost circular C-shape, the gently tapering ends wound with wire and each ending in a spiral ring, one side delicately engraved with two oblong cartouches, one featuring a bird chasing a running beast, the other a floral spray, all against a finely ring-punched background 

Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1954-55, cat. no. 44.

Chinese Gold, Silver and Porcelain. The Kempe Collection, Asia House Gallery, New York, 1971, cat. no. 19, an exhibition touring the United States and shown also at nine other museums.

Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1953, pl. 44.

Bo Gyllensvärd, 'T'ang Gold and Silver', Bulletin of the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, no. 29, 1957, pl. 7f, fig. 70n.

Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 42.

The bracelet is in overall very good condition. The surface shows very light overall wear and scratching.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Four plain silver bracelets of similar shape were discovered in the Tang dynasty hoard at Dingmaoqiao, Jiangsu province in 1982, illustrated in Tangdai jinyin qi, Beijing, 1985, pl. 235. A gold ornament of larger size but similar design was unearthed in Pingchangqu, Beijing, illustrated in Gems of Beijing Cultural Relics. Gold and Silverwares, Beijing, 2004, pl. 20.